12 Things Only Slow People Would Understand

Slow people sometimes get a bad rap, criticized for taking too long or not being decisive enough. Being slow is a silly quality for people to complain about, though, because of all the good that comes from being a little slower than most, like patience and being able to really listen to the person doing most of the talking. Read on about the things which slow people understand, but most others don’t seem to.

1. You don’t like to rush.

Slow people don’t particularly enjoy the feeling of being in a hurry. They appreciate the opportunity to do things at a relaxed, comfortable pace. Some might complain that they need to get their butts in gear, but those individuals should realize different people are wired different ways.

2. You want to think more deeply than most people.

Frankly, a lot of people have pretty shallow beliefs and ideas. Slow people don’t want to be among that number, spending the time it takes to have complex, insightful thoughts.

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3. You only speak when you have something to say.

Those who respond to questions before they’ve finished being asked it usually don’t answer them very well. By taking a little longer, slow people know how to make the things they say matter more. Others will forget that it took you awhile to get your reply out, but they’ll remember the answer if it was a wise one.

4. You want to savor every mouthful.

Someone who eats a meal or reads a book slowly is really maximizing the joy they derive from it. Some people are in too big of a hurry to actually enjoy what they’re consuming. Slow people know better than to do that.

5. You’re patient with others.

Because you understand what it’s like to want to take your time, you don’t get mad at others for wanting to do the same. Eliminating that restless anger from your life is good for you in both mind and spirit, and people will like you better for being a more positive person.

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6. You don’t say the first thing that comes to mind.

A lot of people shout out the first thing that pops into their head, and suffer for it. Slow people don’t make that mistake, searching for the best answers rather than the quickest ones.

7. You like to listen.

Slow people don’t always like to talk, but they tend to cherish the chance to listen to somebody else share their story. Everyone likes someone who actually listens to them instead of someone just waiting for a chance to interject and get back to talking about themselves.

8. You love being alone sometimes.

Slow people tend to be introverts, meaning they derive energy from being on their own rather than socializing with others. It’s amazing what an hour alone doing their own thing can do for a slow person’s mood and energy.

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That ability to quickly reinvigorate is valuable.

9. You don’t like having to be improvisational.

If you were a comedian, you would prefer stand-up over improv. Slow people prefer to prepare something in advance rather than rely on being interesting and entertaining at a moment’s notice.

10. You’re more of a writer than a talker.

By the same token, the chance to prepare what they’re going to say by putting words to paper is invaluable to many slow people. Some types of people deliver their best speeches without a script, but slow people like having that safety net.

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11. You want to avoid making mistakes.

Slow people are often perfectionists, dissatisfied with the idea of not getting everything right. But this just means they make less errors.

12. You want to always do the right thing.

Too many say the wrong things and then make stupid decisions because they don’t really think through their choices. Slow people prefer to avoid this problem by being absolutely sure that they’re not making avoidable mistakes.

That dedication to getting things right is yet another benefit to being a little slower than most.

7 Ways To Deal With Negative People

Some people will have a rain cloud hanging over them, no matter what the weather is outside. Their negative attitude is toxic to your own moods, and you probably feel like there is little you can do about it.

But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

If you want to effectively deal with negative people and be a champion of positivity, then your best route is to take definite action through some of the steps below.

1. Limit the time you spend with them.

First, let’s get this out of the way. You can be more positive than a cartoon sponge, but even your enthusiasm has a chance of being afflicted by the constant negativity of a friend.

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In fact, negativity has been proven to damage your health physically, making you vulnerable to high levels of stress and even cardiac disease. There’s no reason to get hurt because of someone else’s bad mood.

Though this may be a little tricky depending on your situation, working to spend slightly less time around negative people will keep your own spirits from slipping as well.

2. Speak up for yourself.

Don’t just absorb the comments that you are being bombarded with, especially if they are about you. It’s wise to be quick to listen and slow to speak, but being too quiet can give the person the impression that you are accepting what’s being said.

3. Don’t pretend that their behavior is “OK.”

This is an easy trap to fall into. Point out to the person that their constant negativity isn’t a good thing. We don’t want to do this because it’s far easier to let someone sit in their woes, and we’d rather just stay out of it.

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But if you want the best for this person, avoid giving the false impression that their negativity is normal.

4. Don’t make their problems your problems.

Though I consider empathy a gift, it can be a dangerous thing. When we hear the complaints of a friend or family member, we typically start to take on their burdens with them.

This is a bad habit to get into, especially if this is a person who is almost exclusively negative. These types of people are prone to embellishing and altering a story in order to gain sympathy.

Why else would they be sharing this with you?

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5. Change the subject.

When you suspect that a conversation is starting to take a turn for the negative, be a champion of positivity by changing the subject. Of course, you have to do this without ignoring what the other person said.

Acknowledge their comment, but move the conversation forward before the euphoric pleasure gained from complaining takes hold of either of you.

6. Talk about solutions, not problems.

Sometimes, changing the subject isn’t an option if you want to deal with negative people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be positive.

I know that when someone begins dumping complaints on me, I have a hard time knowing exactly what to say. The key is to measure your responses as solution-based.

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You can do this by asking questions like, “Well, how could this be resolved?” or, “How do you think they feel about it?”

Use discernment to find an appropriate response that will help your friend manage their perspectives.

7. Leave them behind.

Sadly, there are times when we have to move on without these friends, especially if you have exhausted your best efforts toward building a positive relationship.

If this person is a family member, you can still have a functioning relationship with them, of course, but you may still have to limit the influence they have over your wellbeing.

That being said, what are some steps you’ve taken to deal with negative people? Let us know in the comments.